The Eagles played the Syria Mosque in Pittsburgh on May 9th, 1974. Jeffrey Comanor and Jesse Colin Young opened.
“Bassist Randy Meisner deserves mention here for the solid bottom lines which helped make these rockers work, as well as for the superb high harmonies he provided throughout.”
The Eagles opened for Procol Harum.
Sixty years ago, members of the Denver group, The Soul Survivors, discovered Randy Meisner while scouting for new bass players at a Battle Of The Bands competition. Here we take a closer look at the band battle and Randy’s first days as a member of the Soul Survivors, including their subsequent move to Los Angeles, where they became The Poor.
Rick Nelson & The Stone Canyon Band taped an appearance on The Mike Douglas Show at the Greek Theatre on the campus of California Western in San Diego, CA on April 1st, 1971. Other guests on the show were George Carlin, Chuck Berry & Linda Ronstadt.1 Rick and the Stone Canyon Band played two songs, both written by Rick: “Easy To Be Free” and “Look At Mary.“2 Don’t miss Rick introducing the band between songs at 4:03. Watch the full episode here.
Watch footage of the concert below.
The band was billed under their actual name: Meisner, Rich & Swan. The misnomer Meisner, Swan & Rich was due to an error on a CD insert in 2001, several years after the group had disbanded.
Meisner, Rich & Swan:
Randy Meisner: vocals, bass
Allen Rich (aka Charlie Rich, Jr): vocals, keyboards
Billy Swan: vocals, acoustic guitar
Vern Monnett: electric guitar
Ron Grinel: drums (Grinel had previously performed with the Roberts-Meisner Band, as well as Joe Walsh’s band in the 1970s. Both Randy and Grinel appeared on Walsh’s So What album in 1974)
Concert photos by Stephen Duncan, who also acquired the autographs.
Watch several songs from the group’s set below.
Pretty Baby
Try & Love Again
You Look Like Someone I Could Love
Lonesome Cowgirl
I Can Help
Take It To The Limit
Midnight Flyer
Footage @Stephen Duncan
Harriet Kaplan of Music Connection reviewed the concert. She described Meisner, Rich & Swan’s performance as “low-key & unpretentious” and noted that the three key members introduced each other’s songs with “obvious admiration.” She also highlighted the group’s vocal harmonies as their most impressive feature.
Randy with fan Stephen Duncan outside the Wise Guys nightclub:
Dan Fogelberg opened.
Photos by Keith McDougall
Randy opened for the Little River Band.
The Eagles played New Haven, CT on March 26th, 1977. Listen to an audience recording, see rare photos, and more.
Rick Nelson & The Stone Canyon Band performed two songs on The Mike Douglas Show in an episode that aired on Christmas Day, 1969. The performances included their current single, Bob Dylan’s “She Belongs To Me” and “Believe What You Say.”
“She Belongs To Me”
“Believe What You Say”
Notice Randy’s smile when the audience applauds at the beginning.
A behind-the-scenes and song-by-song look at the Eagles’ fourth studio album, ONE OF THESE NIGHTS, released in 1975.
Rick Nelson & The Stone Canyon Band appeared on The Mike Douglas Show on April 8th, 1971. The episode was filmed in San Diego, CA one week earlier on April 1st.
Rick Nelson & the Stone Canyon Band played two songs, both written by Rick: “Easy To Be Free” and “Look At Mary.” Watch both of them below. Don’t miss Rick introducing the band between songs at 4:03.
The Eagles played the Athletic & Convocation Center at Notre Dame in South Bend, IN on July 24th, 1975. Poco was the opening act.
This live recording archive features songs that Randy sang lead or co-lead on between 1972-1977, during his tenure with the Eagles.
The Eagles played Veterans Memorial Coliseum in New Haven, CT on March 26th, 1977. Jimmy Buffett opened. Listen to an audience recording of the Eagles’ set below.
“Take It To The Limit”
Full Concert Recording
Recording Setlist
Hotel California
Walk Away
Doolin Dalton/Desperado Reprise
Lyin Eyes
Take It To The Limit
New Kid In Town
Desperado(Cut)
One Of These Nights
Turn To Stone
James Dean
Best Of My Love
Funk#49
Take It Easy
Already Gone
Victim Of Love
Life In The Fast Lane
Rocky Mountain Way
Witchy Woman
See more dates on the Hotel California Tour below:
